Twentieth+Welsh+1

=**__The 20th Amendment__**= By: Julie, David, kellie, and Brian



**When was this amendment ratified?** -The 20th amendment was ratified on January 23rd, 1933.

**Why was this amendment called the "Lame Duck"?** -The 20th amendment was called the Lame Duck because when a president or senator is voted out of office, they are still going to be in office for about 5 more months. the 20th amendment put a stop to the "Lame Duck" sessions of congress.

**What was the purpose of the 20th amendment?** -The purpose of the amendment was to take away some time between the election of the President and Congress and the beginning of their terms. This amendment also made sure that the president wasn't taking over his power and made sure that president's power was limited.

**Where all of the sections to the 20th amendment ratified on the same day?** -Not all of the sections were ratified on the same day. Sections 1, 2 and 5 didn't go into effect until October 15th, 1933.

-Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected four times to the office of president which helped the cause of the 20th amendment.
 * [[image:http://www.partycheap.com/v/vspfiles/photos/50801-2T.jpg width="33" height="30"]] Which president had more than two terms?**

The 20th amendment also restricted how long a president can stay in office. Before this happened president Roosevelt was in office for 11 years!

The first page to the 20th amendment!

= = This amendment was established in 1933. The purpose of the amendment was to reduce the amount of time between the election of the President and Congress and the beginning of their terms. Under the Constitution as originally adopted, the terms of the President and the Congress began on [|March 4], four months after the elections were held. While this lapse was a practical necessity during the 18th century, at which time a newly elected official might need several months to put his affairs in order and then undertake the arduous journey from his home to the national capital, it had the effect of impeding the functioning of government in the modern age. This was seen most notably as the states of the [|Confederate States of America] seceded after the election of [|Abraham Lincoln] but before he could take office in 1861, and while the [|Great Depression] worsened following the election of [|Franklin D. Roosevelt] in [|1932], but the nation remained under the [|lame duck] leadership of [|Herbert Hoover]. = = =Current Events:= On January 7, 2008 it was the full day day of campaigning before Tuesday's primary election in New Hampshire, R.I.. Republican and Democratic Presidential Candidates are going in opposite directions. Alabama,a Democrat, and a Senator from Illinois, is the first African American to run for President of the U.S.A.. Senator and Republican McCain, is 71 year old and lives in Arizona. Romney a Republican,and Clinton a Democrat are also in the running. Romney is winning over McCain.Alabama leaders Clinton by only 8 points.
 * Kellie**

Back in the 1700's the 20th amendment was a good idea because of the slow transportation. It caused a president to take time before getting sworn in. So everyone who was still in office waiting for their succeeder to come to Washington D.C was called a "lame duck". when the amendment was made it helped because it made the "lame duck" session shorter by about 2 months. In current times president Bill Clinton was to be impeached. But due to the "lame duck" period the vote had to held back until after Bill Clinton's presidential term was done leaving us with a unwanted president.

I think that we shouldn't have the lame duck period. It's only holding us back with the presidential elections and the senate elections. We don't have to get rid of the whole amendment but just these lame duck parts. We could probably get more done in Washington without it!
 * By Brian**

On October 5th, 2007, Larry Sabato proposed many changes to the U.S constitution. One of Sabato's ideas was that the president runs every 3 years instead of every 2 years and he would impose term limits in all federal elected officeholders. Sabato would also increase the membership of the Senate to 140, which would also include any former presidents and vice presidents if they would like to run as "national Senators"

I think that some of Larry Sabato's ideas are very interesting and excellent ideas. Many of his ideas should be considered by the state to be in the 20th amendment. His ideas might help out the 20th amendment a lot and cause less arguments by presidents and the people.
 * By Julie**

"I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship," Pelosi said, taking the symbol of her new job from Republican minority leader John Boehner. Cheers of the Democrats almost drowned out the clerk of the House's announcement that Pelosi was elected speaker by 233 votes to 202 -- reflecting the number of seats held by each party. (Watch jubilant congressmen as the House makes history ) In the Senate, Harry Reid took charge as majority leader, sealing the power shift to the Democrats, who have spent most of the past dozen years in the minority. Pelosi stressed that she wanted cooperation between Democrats and Republicans, echoing similar calls by President Bush on Wednesday as well as Boehner, who addressed the House before her. ([|Read Pelosi's speech transcript]) "In this House, we may be different parties, but we serve one country," she said. Pelosi noted that her election marked "an historic moment for the women of America." "It is a moment for which we have waited over 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. "But women weren't just waiting," she continued. "women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. "For our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. (Watch Pelosi celebrate breaking 'the marble ceiling' ) Pelosi then moved on to promote her party's agenda. She urged Congress to hit the ground running and pass legislation quickly to ensure it will be the "most honest and open Congress in history." House Democrats want to use the first 100 hours of legislative work of the new Congress to reform lobbying, push raises to the national minimum wage, implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and reduce prescription drug costs for seniors and college loan interest rates for students. Lobbying reform will be taken up first. (Watch to see what the Democratic-led Congress might accomplish )**__BY David__** Reid outlined the same agenda but said the Senate would maintain its historical role of reviewing legislation at a slower pace. "It is important that we legislate the right way, with the best information available," he said. A national poll released this week showed Democrats have strong support for nearly all the measures they want to pass in their first days in charge. But Democrats' thin hold on power ensures that any successful legislation must have at least some GOP support. The Senate is divided 51-49, with two senators elected as independents caucusing with the Democrats. South Dakota Democrat Tim Johnson, who is recovering from a brain hemorrhage, was not present. 
 * WASHINGTON** (CNN) -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday, as Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress.

Integrity tops to-do list
Before the House and Senate were called to order, Reid invited Democrats and Republicans to a rare closed-door conference Thursday in the Old Senate Chamber in hopes of setting a bipartisan mood after years of political rancor. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the meeting gave senators in both parties "a chance to express some of their quiet frustrations [about] the level of partisanship that we've witnessed in recent years," according to The Associated Press. After passage of a series of routine resolutions -- including elevating 89-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, as President Pro Tempore, third in the line of presidential succession -- the Senate floor opened for business. (Watch Dick Cheney and Robert Byrd signal the transfer of power ) Incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, told reporters that Democrats would move quickly on rules changes. "On Thursday and Friday, we're going to adopt rules that will change the way the people's House operates to ensure its integrity, to ensure its openness and to ensure its transparency," Hoyer said Wednesday. Tighter restrictions on spending earmarks, lobbying, gifts and travel will be proposed, Democratic House leaders said. (View what House Democrats pledge to pass in the first 100 legislative hours) A $2.10 hourly increase in the minimum wage to $7.25 is among six bills Democrats pledged to advance in their first 100 hours of making new laws next week, after members are seated and committees are organized. The minimum wage was last increased in 1997. Democrats want to phase increases over two years, a proposal that has drawn conditional support from President Bush. (Minimum wages by state) But they may face a tougher hurdle in efforts to repeal Bush's ban on federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. In the only veto of his presidency to date, Bush killed a similar bill that passed with bipartisan support last year -- and White House spokesman Tony Snow said Wednesday that the president's position has not changed. The schedule for the 100 legislative hours stretches from Tuesday through January 18, five days ahead of Bush's State of the Union address. 

Grandchildren and grand stars
Cheers and children were key components of the opening ceremonies in the House, with congressmen bringing their families to witness their swearing in. Pelosi was escorted into the House chamber by her grandchildren. She greeted colleagues with hugs and handshakes as her family walked beside her and later invited all the children present to come up to the speaker's chair for a chance to touch the gavel. Among guests watching from Pelosi's box in the House gallery were singers Tony Bennett and Carole King, and actor Richard Gere. CNN's Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report. Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [|Associated Press] contributed to this report. What are E-mail Alerts? | [|Manage Alerts] | [|Create Your Own]
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Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, receives the House gavel Thursday in the traditional ceremony. Image: ADVERTISER LINKS Browse/Search
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 * By David**

**Section 1.** (Terms of president, vice president, senators, and representatives) The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin. **Section 2.** (Time of assembling Congress) The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. **Section 3.** (Filling unoccupied positions in office of president) If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President elect shall have died, the Vice President elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified. **Section 4.** (Power of Congress in presidential succession) The Congress may by law provide for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the House of Representatives may choose a President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them, and for the case of the death of any of the persons from whom the Senate may choose a Vice President whenever the right of choice shall have devolved upon them. **Section 5.** (Time of taking effect) Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect on the 15th day of October following the ratification of this article. **Section 6.** (Ratification) This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission.

The following states ratified the amendment: Ratification was completed on [|January 23], [|1933]. The amendment was ratified by the following states:
 * 1) Virginia ( [|March 4], [|1932])
 * 2) New York ( [|March 11], [|1932])
 * 3) Mississippi ( [|March 16], [|1932])
 * 4) Arkansas ( [|March 17], [|1932])
 * 5) Kentucky ( [|March 17], [|1932])
 * 6) New Jersey ( [|March 21], [|1932])
 * 7) South Carolina ( [|March 25], [|1932])
 * 8) Michigan ( [|March 31], [|1932])
 * 9) Maine ( [|April 1], [|1932])
 * 10) Rhode Island ( [|April 14], [|1932])
 * 11) Illinois ( [|April 21], [|1932])
 * 12) Louisiana ( [|June 22], [|1932])
 * 13) West Virginia ( [|July 30], [|1932])
 * 14) Pennsylvania ( [|August 11], [|1932])
 * 15) Indiana ( [|August 15], [|1932])
 * 16) Texas ( [|September 7], [|1932])
 * 17) Alabama ( [|September 13], [|1932])
 * 18) California ( [|January 4], [|1933])
 * 19) North Carolina ( [|January 5], [|1933])
 * 20) North Dakota ( [|January 9], [|1933])
 * 21) Minnesota ( [|January 12], [|1933])
 * 22) Arizona ( [|January 13], [|1933])
 * 23) Montana ( [|January 13], [|1933])
 * 24) Nebraska ( [|January 13], [|1933])
 * 25) Oklahoma ( [|January 13], [|1933])
 * 26) Kansas ( [|January 16], [|1933])
 * 27) Oregon ( [|January 16], [|1933])
 * 28) Delaware ( [|January 19], [|1933])
 * 29) Washington ( [|January 19], [|1933])
 * 30) Wyoming ( [|January 19], [|1933])
 * 31) Iowa ( [|January 20], [|1933])
 * 32) South Dakota ( [|January 20], [|1933])
 * 33) Tennessee ( [|January 20], [|1933])
 * 34) Idaho ( [|January 21], [|1933])
 * 35) New Mexico ( [|January 21], [|1933])
 * 36) Georgia ( [|January 23], [|1933])
 * 37) Missouri ( [|January 23], [|1933])
 * 38) Ohio ( [|January 23], [|1933])
 * 39) Utah ( [|January 23], [|1933])
 * 1) Massachusetts ( [|January 24], [|1933])
 * 2) Wisconsin ( [|January 24], [|1933])
 * 3) Colorado ( [|January 24], [|1933])
 * 4) Nevada ( [|January 26], [|1933])
 * 5) Connecticut ( [|January 27], [|1933])
 * 6) New Hampshire ( [|January 31], [|1933])
 * 7) Vermont ( [|February 2], [|1933])Maryland ( [|March 24], 1933 9.Florida ( [|April 26], [|1933])

Twentieth Welsh 1